Can-opener.



H. A. HUNTER.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED mu.21,1911

1,007,285, Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

my z.-o/4%- HENRY A. HUNTER, OF CURRY BUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application file-:1 March 21, 1911. Serial No. 615,978.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Curry Run, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers and has for its object the provision of a comparatively simple and thoroughly efficient device of this character, the construction of which is such that a metal can or other container may be quickly and conveniently opened without liability of cutting or otherwise lacerating the hand of the operator.

A further object is to provide a can opener formed from a single length of wire having its intermediate portion bent to produce an operating handle, one strand of which terminates in a cutting element and the other in a spur or finger adapted to pierce the top of a can to permit the insertion of said cutting element.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efliciency, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can opener, embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the manner of using the piercing finger or spur; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing in full lines the position of the cutting blade after being inserted in the opening in the top of the can, and in dotted lines the position assumed by the operating handle when the latter is oscillated to effect the cutting of the can.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved can opener forming the subject matter of the present invention is preferably formed from a single length of wire or other suitable material having its intermediate portion bent upon itself at 5 to produce an operating handle 6, one strand of the wire forming the handle being bent around the mating strand, as indicated at 7 and thence extended laterally to form a hook 8. The metal forming one wall of the hook 8 is inclined or beveled in opposite directions to provide a cutting edge 9 adapted to be inserted in the top of a can and sever the latter when the operating handle 5 is moved back and forth to effect the opening of said can. The other end or strand of the wire is continued longitudinally in the same plane with the handle 5 to a point in approximate alinement with the rear or closed end 10 of the hook, and thence bent laterally at substantially right angles to the hook to form a finger 11 terminating in a piercing point or spur 12, the latter being adapted to pierce the top of a can so as to form an opening therein and thus permit the insertion of the cutting element.

In using the tool, the latter is grasped by the handle 5 and the point 12 forced downwardly in the top of a can so as to form an opening therein, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, after which the tool is disengaged from the can and the free end of the hook 8 inserted in the opening with the cutting edge 9 uppermost. With the tool in this position, it will be seen that the finger 11 will bear against the upper surface of the .top of the can, while the cutting edge 9 will bear against the lower surface thereof, so that by oscillating the handle 5 with the finger 11 as a fulcrum, the edge 9 will cut or sever the metal, thus to permit the removal of the top of the can and allow access to the interior thereof. It will here be noted that the finger 11 not only serves to pierce or puncture the top of a can, but also forms a fulcrum for the tool during the cutting operation.

The device is extremely simple in construction and may be manufactured and placed on the market at a comparatively small cost.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A can opener formed from a single length of wire having its intermediate portion bent upon itself to produce an operating handle, one strand of the wire being coiled around the mating strand and thence bent laterally to produce a substantially V-shaped hook arranged at substantially right angles to the length of the handle, the upper face of the lower Wall of the hook being beveled in opposite directions to produce a cutting edge extending approximately the entire length thereof, the other strand of Wire being continued downwardly at the open end of the hook and thence extended transversely across and in spaced relation to Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

the cutting edge to produce a fulcrum having a curved bearing surface terminating in a piercing point.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY A. HUNTER [1. s.]

Witnesses JOHN F. MITCHELL, GERTRUDE MITCHELL.

Washington, D. C. 

